Cost of Living Comparison Between Beirut and HamraCost of Living Comparison Between Beirut and Hamra
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,390 in Beirut versus $881 in Hamra.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,293 in Beirut versus $1,391 in Hamra.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,195 in Beirut versus $1,901 in Hamra.
🌍Living in Beirut is roughly 58% more expensive than in Hamra, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Beirut is 4% above, Hamra is 34% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beirut
Hamra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.63LBP 951.4K
$10.86LBP 972.3K
-2.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.8LBP 5.4M
$60.7LBP 5.4M
-1.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.84LBP 701.7K
$7.98LBP 714.6K
-1.75%
Cappuccino
$3.32LBP 296.7K
$3.43LBP 306.9K
-3.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57LBP 140.7K
$1.59LBP 142.2K
-1.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87LBP 77.7K
$0.92LBP 82.1K
-5.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48LBP 311.5K
$3.59LBP 321.3K
-3.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.95LBP 442.9K
$4.87LBP 435.6K
1.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beirut
Hamra
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77LBP 158.6K
$1.80LBP 161.0K
-1.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79LBP 70.8K
$0.85LBP 75.7K
-7.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82LBP 162.5K
$1.84LBP 164.6K
-1.09%
Eggs
$3.10LBP 277.8K
$3.21LBP 287.2K
-3.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.08LBP 992.0K
$11.49LBP 1.0M
-3.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.37LBP 838.3K
$9.49LBP 849.2K
-1.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.46LBP 1.0M
$11.44LBP 1.0M
0.17%
Apples(1kg)
$1.74LBP 155.9K
$1.78LBP 159.4K
-2.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45LBP 130.0K
$1.47LBP 131.9K
-1.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.14LBP 102.2K
$1.15LBP 102.7K
-0.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.05LBP 94.1K
$1.09LBP 97.3K
-3.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00LBP 89.1K
$1.01LBP 90.1K
-0.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.04LBP 93.4K
$1.05LBP 93.7K
-0.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89LBP 79.8K
$0.81LBP 72.9K
9.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53LBP 47.2K
$0.52LBP 46.2K
1.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52LBP 225.9K
$2.54LBP 226.9K
-0.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.18LBP 911.3K
$9.85LBP 881.7K
3.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30LBP 116.1K
$1.28LBP 114.9K
1.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13LBP 190.2K
$2.21LBP 197.8K
-3.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Beirut
Hamra
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.97LBP 176.1K
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$71.1LBP 6.4M
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.95LBP 442.8K
$5.06LBP 452.5K
-2.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.26LBP 113.2K
$1.28LBP 114.3K
-1.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.02LBP 1.8M
$20.08LBP 1.8M
-0.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.93LBP 83.3K
$0.90LBP 80.5K
3.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9KLBP 3.1B
$34.8KLBP 3.1B
0.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KLBP 2.5B
$28.3KLBP 2.5B
-1.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beirut
Hamra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217LBP 19.4M
$215LBP 19.2M
0.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.42LBP 3.3M
$38.24LBP 3.4M
-2.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.20LBP 3.3M
$37.73LBP 3.4M
-1.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beirut
Hamra
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.3LBP 6.1M
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.66LBP 2.7M
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.83LBP 700.5K
$7.87LBP 704.8K
-0.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beirut
Hamra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305LBP 27.3M
$306LBP 27.4M
-0.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,511LBP 403.7M
$4,500LBP 402.7M
0.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beirut
Hamra
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.7LBP 6.2M
$69.8LBP 6.3M
-0.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.73LBP 4.0M
$44.95LBP 4.0M
-0.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121LBP 10.9M
$125LBP 11.2M
-2.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.7LBP 8.5M
$96.3LBP 8.6M
-1.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beirut
Hamra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$789LBP 70.6M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376LBP 33.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,956LBP 175.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$970LBP 86.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,944LBP 352.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,952LBP 174.7M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beirut
Hamra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$715LBP 64.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.16
11.16
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beirut: July 12, 2026
Last update for Hamra: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $60.0 in Beirut vs $61.0 in Hamra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $236 per month, with Beirut cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Beirut vs Hamra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hamra cheaper than Beirut?
Hamra is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 58% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,085 in Beirut and $1,321 in Hamra to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Beirut and in Hamra?
Shoppers in Beirut pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Beirut and in Hamra?
All in, you'll spend $1,390 per month in Beirut versus $881 in Hamra – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Beirut or in Hamra?
At $881 in Hamra versus $1,390 in Beirut, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hamra but tight or insufficient in Beirut. The gap between the two cities makes Hamra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Beirut or Hamra more family-friendly?
For families, Hamra is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Beirut, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Hamra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.